Page 83 of A Reign of Storm and Madness

No. Instead, I lean into him. I uncurl my fists and wrap my arms around his neck, pressing myself against his body as I part my lips for his tongue to enter. Desire. That was the reason I’d given him for our first night. It’s the truth. I’ve never desired to be so important to him as I was that night. He had needed someone to understand him, to distract him from his sorrow and loss, someone to just be there in spite of his vicious tongue intent on driving everyone else away, and I had needed to be that person.

Tears gather in the back of my eyes, but I squeeze them shut as Theos’ hands grasp my hips. He drives me back into the stone wall, his chest smashed against mine as he devours my mouth. A moan bubbles up my throat and he swallows it down as my fingers dive upward, into the locks of white gold hair at the top of his head. His hips encase mine as he rubs the evidence of his arousal, trapped within the confines of his trousers, against my stomach. Then, as if he can’t help himself, Theos shifts and drives one knee between both of my legs.

“I’m still angry,” he murmurs against my lips, “fucking furious with you, Dea, but I understand why you kept your secrets.”

I really don’t want to talk about all the secrets I’ve kept right now. What I want to do is divest both of us of our clothes, throw him back on my cot, climb atop him, and sink down onto the rigid erection straining between us. But I can’t. We can’t.

“We have to go,” I breathe the words out, hating them even as I know how important they are.

My words, however, aren’t what stops Theos. Instead, it’s the rapid pounding against my door that gives him pause. Black eyes shoot to the door with biting fury. I suck in breath after breath, trying to fill up my lungs as I shake the strange sensation from my mind caused by Theos.

He steps back and cold washes over me. His black eyes fade to a dull yellow once more. “Finish getting ready,” Theos bites out the words, practically vibrating with unspent energy.

I don’t argue. I grab up my boots, shove my feet inside, and tie them up in record time. Then, we’re both leaving the room and meeting Ruen and Kalix in the hall as I snatch up my uniform jacket and pull it on. Kalix’s lips twitch in amusement. I don’t even bother commenting on the fact that Theos had been well aware of what had occurred between the Kalix and I. What little extra time we’d had is gone now.

The three of us descend the north tower and head for the arena. The closer we get, the more bodies we see. Mortal Gods mill about at the entrances to the arena seats, trailed by their smaller and far more nondescript Terra.

By the time the Darkhavens reach their seats, I’m half-convinced that Ruen and Kalix are wrong and that a battle is about to be called into session. The situation feels much too similar to the first time. The Gods of the Academy are gathered in their own section, separate from that of their children, at the far end of the arena, right above the tunnel entrance that leads into the sand and dirt covered circle below. My heart beats at a rapid pace against my breast as I scan the crowd for signs of Niall.

Despite the chilly winter air, the sun beats down on us all and sweat begins to collect beneath the fabric of my clothes. My palms are sticky with it as the Darkhavens take their padded seats and paste disinterested and bored expressions upon their faces. I take my position at the end of their bench and clasp my hands behind my back, fingers encircling one wrist tightly.

My eyes move over the heads of the students as they, too, take their seats, collectively gathering before the Gods. A heavy pressure settles on my shoulders and slowly, so as not to appear suspicious, I turn and face forward. Dolos is there. Cloaked in his usual darkness, sitting far back beneath the shade as someone leans close to him and says something I can’t hear from this distance. With the shadows of whatever he uses to dampen his abilities clinging to him, I hate that I can’t see his face, can’t read his expression. Being able to read him might have given us some sort of hint as to why we’ve all been brought here.

A crimson color catches my attention and I yank it away from where Dolos is to spy Maeryn cutting through the crowd, stomping in, to my surprise, a pair of tight trousers and a loose tunic with a brown vest laced up in the front. I’ve only ever seen her wear pants when training, so it’s startling to see her so casually attired as she stalks through those surrounding her to the Second Tier section she’d sat in during the battles.

I cast my gaze behind and around her, but there’s no sign of Niall. My eyes shoot back to Maeryn as she slams herself into her seat, waving off another Terra who’s carrying a tray and offering her a glass of water. Her expression is puckered and dark. A pit of unease opens up in my belly.

Finally, when it seems that everyone has gathered and taken their seats and Terra line the back walls or stand alongside their Masters’ seats, Dolos rises from his chair and moves to the edge of the balcony overlooking the arena. Prickles of awareness crawl over my spine. A collective breath is held as he approaches and pauses, letting everyone get a good look at him before he speaks as if this is some forsaken dramatic play in which he is the main villain.

No, the Gods don’t think of themselves as villains. That’s what makes them so dangerous. To them, they are the heroes. Saving the little mortal creatures from their own misgivings. I close my eyes and tighten my fingers around my wrist. I count backward from ten in my head, pleading for patience.

Slowly, I fall back into that place I know so well. The same place I go to when Ophelia is teaching me one of her lessons. It’s a small piece of myself that I’ve kept away from her, away from everyone. My safe place. Once I’m firmly ensconced within it, I open my eyes and stare blankly across the arena and I wait.

“Welcome students,” Dolos calls out, his voice echoing across the sky, loud and booming. “I’m sure you are all wondering why you’ve been called to the arena. Unfortunately, we are not about to hold our battles again so soon.” The tension within me eases but only marginally. If this isn’t a battle, that doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be something far worse. Knowing the Gods as I do, it is better to keep my expectations low. Kindness is as rare in this place as hope is.

My skin itches, growing taut as Dolos continues to speak. “Our illustrious Academy will soon be hosting the God Council. As such, any and all permission for requested trips outside of our walls have been denied and canceled.”

At my side, Ruen stiffens at the mention of the God Council. I want to turn my head and demand answers. What is the God Council? Why is the Academy going on lockdown? What does this mean? I don’t say a word, though. I don’t even flick a glance his way. I keep my gaze trained steadily ahead.

“Tryphone, himself, our King will be arriving within the next few days.” Dolos’ words punch through me in an instant. Tryphone, the King of the Gods.

Oh … Gods. I may have managed to fool the Darkhavens, even the Gods here at the Academy, but Tryphone—the King of the Gods is the most powerful of them all. Surely, even with the brimstone dampening my Divinity and power, he’d be able to see right through me. Panic claws at my throat. The safe place in my mind calls to me.

Somehow, I have the strangest sensation that Dolos is looking at me from beyond the shadows that surround him. The dark copse of fog that keeps him from being fully visible and keeps his power from shattering the minds of everyone around him under his mental imprisonment tilts slightly to the side, as if he’s canting his head as he speaks again.

“It is your duty to prove to the God Council that you are the most powerful of their offspring and therefore, the most worthy of their presence,” he states. “The mercy I have shown over recent months has now ended. Indefinitely. Should any of you—Student or Terra alike—betray the rules we have set forth, your execution will be swift. Classes will be put on hiatus for the next two weeks as we prepare to welcome our King and his entourage. Any questions of assignments may be directed to your instructors. You are dismissed.”

All of this fanfare, and Dolos calls an end to his summons with a speed that leaves me feeling as if I’ve been whipped off a horse and thrown over a cliff’s edge. The sound of roaring winds and water fills my ears. Tryphone is coming. The King of the Gods is coming here.

Dolos fades back from the balcony and then leaves the Gods’ section entirely. The other Gods and instructors get up, talking amongst themselves, some appearing excited and others appearing bored by this announcement. They don’t care. Of course, they don’t. It’s not their lives at risk. I rove over their faces, each of them—spotting Narelle, Maladesia, and even Axlan.

Where’s Caedmon? I don’t spy him anywhere. His figure is missing from the stands … just like Niall’s.

Niall. The reminder has my head turning back to where Maeryn had been seated before. She’s gone now though. It takes me a moment, but my eyes catch on her retreating back as she storms up the stairs of the stands, moving with grace and speed. I have to catch up with her. I will make sure that Niall is fine and then … then I’ll figure the rest out.

Perhaps, it’s time for me to leave this Academy. To leave the Darkhavens.

“Kiera?” Panic and fake calm are warring within me and despite my attempt at hiding it away, the panic is winning out. I turn to face Ruen as he stands from his seat and peers at me, brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

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